NFL, ufl

Mond, Kellen

CARDS: Panini Elite 2021, Panini Prism 2021, Panini Illusions 2021, Panini Mosaic 2021, Panini Contenders 2021 RotY, Panini Donruss 2021, Panini Prestige 2021, Score 2021, Panini Luminance 2021, Panini Absolute 2021, Panini Illusions 2021 (Vikings), Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, Brahmas Rally. eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kellen Mond played QB for Texas A&M from 2017-’20.
  • Over his college career he completed 801/1358 passes for 71 TDs to 27 interceptions.
  • He also ran for 1608 yards and 22 TDs on 438 carries.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Never really given a chance, as he was drafted by the FO, while HC Mike Zimmer wanted someone else.
  • He completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards in a backup role, despite never speaking to his head coach.
  • Signed with the Cleveland Browns after being cut in 2022 but didn’t make the team’s final roster.
  • Joined the Colts practice squad in 2023.
  • Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 but didn’t make the squad.
  • Jumped to the UFL for the 2025 season where he was named the Brahmas starter.
  • Again Mond dropped right into a dysfunctional FO and coaching situation in San Antonio.
  • With HC Wade Philips health ailing, and a pitched battle for control inside the organization, their OC AJ Smith would quit abruptly after week 2.
  • Mond completed 98 of 171 passes for 850 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions in 7 starts.
  • After the Brahmas were unceremoniously euthanized new ownership of the UFL, Mond did not return to the league for 2026.

ACCOLADES:

  • MVP 2021 Senior Bowl

NOTES:

Not going to lie. I took advantage of the event. There were no lines or gatekeepers. The players were highly accessible and friendly- and I was STACKED with cards. I think Kellen got through 15 of them before GM Marc Lillibridge came up and shooed me away. I took it like a champ and Kellen was kind enough to just sign, sign, sign. Kellen was pretty cool. We talked about Htown and the Woodlands for a bit. (I ended up sending 3 or 4 to Joe per our rolling agreement for him to send me additional cards and I skim a few for myself to add to my own).

I really think Kellen had some terrible, terrible luck falling into two dysfunctional front office/ head coaching situations. The UFL doesn’t know what it wants to be honestly. Is it a farm league to the NFL or a professional league of its own? Kellen has some great tools, but he just needs time and the UFL could’ve been a great place for him to grow.

NFL

Holohan, Pete

CARD: Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: eBay, 2025
FAILURE: TTM 2011, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Pete Holohan switched from QB to TE at Notre Dame playing there from 1977-’81.
  • In 32 contests, Pete caught 63 passes for 983 yards and 2 TDs.
  • 7th round choice of the San Diego Chargers.
  • For much of his career in the Air Coryell offense, Holohan played second fiddle to AP TE Kellen Winslow.
  • Although he started very few games, in 1984, Holohan caught a 54 passes for a career high 734 yards and a TD.
  • Joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1988, where he caught passes from ascending QB Jim Everett.
  • The three years spent with the Rams would be the 3 most consecutive productive seasons of Holohan’s career.
  • Caught a career high 59 passes in ’88 for 640 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Then another 510 yards on 51 receptions (2 TDs) in 1989.
  • After the 1990 season, in which Pete caught 49 passes for 475 yards and 2 TDs, he signed with the Chiefs.
  • Caught 13 passes for 113 yards and 2 TDs for KC.
  • Played one final season in Cleveland in 1992 catching 20 passes for 174 yards.

ACCOLADES:

  • Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame

NOTES:

I was a big LA Rams fan back in the 80s and I loved the Ernie Zampese days with Jim Everett at the helm. It seemed like they were the only ones who could challenge the 49ers domination. Anyway, I played fantasy football as a kid even back then with newspapers and magazines- and I even knew back then Pete was a solid but vastly underrated TE.

I’ve been trying to find Pete for years, but trusting in the fact I haven’t seen him sign TTM, I jumped at this Fleer 90 to add to the collection. He’s got quite a few nice cards, but many of them are very expensive autographed so I consider myself very lucky.

NFL, XFL

Barqoo, Luq

CARD: TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: 2026, IP
FAILURE: TTM 2023, C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Unrecruited out of HS due primarily to injury Luq played JC ball at Grossmont in California.
  • A solid athlete, Luq displayed talent and tenacity playing DB and then later WR.
  • Transferred to San Diego State, and in 2018 returned to defense and also saw time gunning on special teams.
  • Finished college career with 75 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 10 picks, and 20 pass deflections.
  • His 9 interceptions and 16 pass deflections in 2019 led the Mountain West Conference.
  • Undrafted in 2020, he saw time that year in camp and on the practice squad of the Jaguars.
  • In 2021, he was claimed off of waivers by the Cards and was on their practice squad for a bit, before ending the year on the 9ers.
  • A camp cut of the Chiefs and Jets the following season, Barqoo would be the first selection of the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL ’23 in 2022.
  • Finished season with a lot of buzz and as a dominating DB he racked up
  • Signed with the Steelers before the 2023 NFL season, and spent the year on and off the roster, and waived with an injury designation in ’24.
  • Signed with the Cowboys in 2025 and then was later cut by the Lions that year.
  • Selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2026 dispersal draft.

ACCOLADES:

  • All XFL Team 2023

NOTES:

The very first card I created for the TNT XFL set was Luq’s. I was confident that I could get it signed TTM from him via the Steelers, but I never got a response.

I’m glad that I scoured the roster of the Battlehawks before I met with Justin, as it reminded me that Luq was on the team now. I still have 3-4 Brahmas left to graph from that ’23 team, but I was really glad to add Luq on his card. When the players came over to sign, I wisely had 2 sharpies to help move them along quickly. When Luq came up to me, I said to him, “Hey baby. I bet you thought I forgot about you.”, And handed him his encapsulated card and one to sign. He smiled. I could tell he really loved the card.

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.